Lt Col Christopher Leiste is the Commander, 336th Recruiting Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. He commands nine enlisted accession flights comprised of approximately 95 active-duty and six civilian personnel responsible for over 86,000 square-miles throughout Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. He partners with military, civic, educational, and community leaders to generate optimum awareness for Department of the Air Force accessions.
Lt Col Leiste received his commission in May 2006 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Miami. He is an advanced program management professional and has a diverse acquisitions background supporting the requirements definition, development, procurement and/or sustainment of numerous air-to-ground and air-to-air munitions, MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft systems, F-22 Raptor fifth-generation fighter aircraft, and the Mobility Air Force enterprise 618th Air Operations Center and electronic warfare systems Prior to his current position, Lt Col Leiste commanded the Butte Military Entrance Processing Station, Butte, Montana, a joint organization responsible for evaluating applicants of all military services and shipping enlistees to nine recruit training centers throughout the continental United States.
Lt Col Leiste deployed in support of Operation FREEDOM'S SENTINAL conducting oversight and accountability of United States defense articles issued to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He has served with distinction at the squadron, wing, and major command level and deployed.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2008 Test and Evaluation Foundational Certification, Acquisition Professional Development Program, Defense 2009 Test and Evaluation Practitioner Certification, Acquisition Professional Development Program, Defense
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Science, Project Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Dayton Beach, Fla.
2014 Program Management Practitioner Certification, Acquisition Professional Development Program, Defense Acquisition University
2018 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Program Management Advanced Certification, Acquisition Professional Development Program, Defense Acquisition University
ASSIGNMENTS
July 2006 – January 2009, Weapons Test Engineer, 780th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla
January 2009 – March 2009, Senior Missile Test Engineer, 780th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
March 2009 – August 2009, Deputy Flight Commander, Air-to-Ground Test, 780th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
August 2009 – August 2010, Wing Executive Officer, 46th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
August 2010 – June 2012, Chief, MQ-1/MQ-9 System Safety, Medium Altitude Unmanned Aircraft Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
June 2012 – February 2013, MQ-1/MQ-9 Combat Systems Test Manager, Medium Altitude Unmanned Aircraft Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
February 2013 – August 2014, Deputy Program Manager, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operations Centers, Medium Altitude Unmanned Aircraft Systems Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
August 2014 – February 2015, Expendable Countermeasure Program Manager, Munitions Sustainment Division, Hill AFB, Utah
February 2015 – July 2016, Cartridges Program Manager, Munitions Sustainment Division, Hill AFB, Utah
July 2016 – December 2017, Deputy, F-22 Fleet Management and Field Operations, F-22 Division, Hill AFB, Utah (November 2016 – May 2017, Chief, End-Use Monitoring and Validation, Security Assistance Office - Afghanistan, Camp Resolute Support, Kabul, Afghanistan)
December 2017 – August 2018, Chief, F-22 Weapon System Management Integrated Product Team, F-22 Division, Hill AFB, Utah
August 2018 – June 2019, Chief, 618th Air Operations Center Requirements, Requirements Division, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
June 2019 – July 2020, Special Actions Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
July 2020 – April 2021, Chief, Electronic Warfare Requirements Branch, Requirements Division, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
April 2021 – June 2023, Commander, Butte Military Entrance Processing Station, Butte, Mont.
June 2023 – Present, Commander, 336th Recruiting Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
November 2016 – May 2017, Chief, End Use Monitoring, Security Assistance Office - Afghanistan, Camp Resolute Support, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a major
April 2021 – June 2023, Commander, Butte Military Entrance Processing Station, Butte, Mont., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
NATO Medal
(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2023)